Nick Maxwell and Sydney Kenning were just four weeks from their wedding day when they learned the news. The venue they choose for their big day suddenly closed this week -- the Hotel Pattee in Perry.

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The couple said they learned about the closure not from a call from the hotel, but from a story on KCCI.

"Found out from your online KCCI report," said bride Sydney Kenning.

After the news of the hotel's closing aired on KCCI-TV Wednesday, groom Nick Maxwell had to make a very nerve wracking phone call to his fiance.

"We were all afraid of Sydney's reaction and my first response was, I don't care about the venue I am just terrified that somebody might get murdered," said Maxwell.

The couple was supposed to have their wedding ceremony and reception at Hotel Pattee on Sept. 1.

Kenning said that if it had not been on the news, they might have shown up on the wedding day to find the doors padlocked.

The historic hotel abruptly closed Wednesday afternoon leaving only a sign in the window and a lock on the door.

"I haven't received any call, Nick hasn't received any call," said Kenning.

The couple said they had a deposit of more than $1,000 with the hotel. They also had booked rooms for Maxwell's entire family who is flying in from California.

"I am concerned about everybody putting credit card hotel reservations down for Hotel Pattee and I just want to make sure that everybody is protected," said Maxwell.

The couple hasn't received any answers from the hotel's managers and was forced to send out last minute letters to guests and start planning all over again just weeks before the big day.

"I've definitely started saying the motto, 'Bridezillas aren't born, they're made.' And I really feel I was being pushed to that," said Kenning.

The couple said they now plan to get married in Sydney's hometown of Ottumwa. They've found a venue overlooking the river.

"It really has brought out everything that really matters, which is the love we have for each other," said Kenning.

KCCI spoke to a representative of Leisure Hotels on Thursday, the Kansas-based company that managed the investors who owned Hotel Pattee. They told us there is no money left in the hotel's accounts and that the bank has taken over ownership of the hotel.